Persimmon tree named &#39;Rojo Brillante&#39;

ABSTRACT

The persimmon tree of the present invention is characterized by producing a large highly colored fruit. The new variety most closely resembles the ‘Rojo Brillante’ persimmon tree, but it is distinguished in a number of respects including that ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ retains a higher cheek firmness after astringency removal than ‘Rojo Brillante.’ Also, the color after astringency removal of ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ is more yellow-orange than that of ‘Rojo Brillante.’ ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ is a pollination-variant astringent cultivar (PVA).

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Diospyros kaki L.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Commercial varieties of fruit trees may be distinguished from one another by a multiplicity of characteristics. Furthermore, there are many varieties of certain fruit trees while other types of fruit trees have only a few commercially recognized varieties. For example, peach trees have a plethora of recognized commercial varieties while persimmon trees have very few. Thus, in the case of persimmon trees, there are considerably fewer varieties from which to choose, of course both in the trees and the fruit there from. This makes new varieties of persimmon trees potentially of significantly more importance than is the case with peach trees. When this fact is coupled with all of the distinguishing characteristics, such as ripening date, size, coloration, flavor and the like, the commercial potential of such varieties may be significant.

The persimmon tree of the present invention appears to be a promising candidate in these regards, as will hereinafter be set forth in greater detail.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of persimmon tree, which will hereinafter be denominated as ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’, and more particularly, to a persimmon tree which produces fruit which are mature for commercial harvesting and shipment approximately the second-fourth week of November near Kingsburg in the southern San Joaquin Valley of California.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: a color photograph of ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante:’ (A) before astringency removal treatment; and (B) after astringency removal treatment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

‘Rojo Brillante’ (not patented) was selected by local Spanish growers in the 1960s among many wild persimmons growing in the Ribera del Júcar, south of Valencia. In March of 2005, six accession cuttings of the ‘Rojo Brillante’ cultivar were imported from Spain, grafted on Diospyros lotus rootstocks, and placed under quarantine in Kingsburg, California. After the quarantine period, the trees were asexually reproduced in Kingsburg, California by grafting bud wood of the variety on to Diospyros kaki rootstocks. The ‘Rojo Brillante’ cultivar was selected based on bloom time. From the six accession cuttings of ‘Rojo Brillante’ several persimmon trees were produced by whip grafting, and their horticultural performance has been evaluated over the years. Three trees were selected that originated from one cutting that expressed different important horticulture traits compared to trees originating from the other five cuttings. The three selected trees were named ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante.’ As of early 2008, the three ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ trees are approximately three years old.

One of the different horticultural traits observed in ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante,’ was that leafing and blooming occurs 4-7 days later than in ‘Rojo Brillante’. Delayed leafing and blooming may help to avoid crop damage resulting from spring frost. In some seasons, this delay in blooming may also affect harvesting date, but this effect has not yet been observed. The ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ cultivar is in the pollination-variant astringent (PVA) group, thus fruits are astringent at harvest with a full orange-yellow flesh. ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ fruit is ripe for commercial harvesting and shipment during the second to fourth week of November in the southern San Joaquin Valley of California.

Another of the different horticultural traits observed in ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ was firmness retention. Firmness retention is a very important trait for the successful marketing of healthy fruit, such as ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante,’ under current fruit handling conditions. It is worth noting that improved firmness has been reported in other species such as peaches, plums, and nectarines. Various fruit breeding programs have selected for mutations of enzymes related to softening, such as endo and exo PG, to produce very successful improved firmness cultivars. Several new cultivars have become commercially available based on the firmness retention characteristic. Experience with fruit behavior during postharvest handling, transportation, and marketing has shown that a 3 to 5 pound difference in fruit firmness allows for the extension of storage and shelf life. ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ trees were selected for based on fruit firmness that was approximately 3 to 5 pounds greater than ‘Rojo Brillante,’ which allowed for an extension of storage and shelf life over ‘Rojo Brillante.’

Fruit from ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ trees tolerated postharvest astringency removal treatment much better than fruit from ‘Rojo Brillante’ trees. The astringency removal treatment consisted of exposing persimmon fruit to high carbon dioxide levels (95%) for 12 hours at room temperature (20° C.). This treatment is essential to allow the ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ cultivar to be freshly consumed.

Firmness evolution (softening) of ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ fruit was followed after the astringency removal treatment during cold and warm storage. The ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ fruit remained commercially firmer than fruit from ‘Rojo Brillante’ trees during astringency removal treatment and postharvest handling (storage and simulated shelve display). Cheek fruit firmness of ripe ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ ranges from 7.7 to 10.7 pounds, while the cheek fruit firmness of ‘Rojo Brillante’ ranges from 5.6 to 6.0 pounds.

The average color of ‘Rojo Brillante’ and ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ was evaluated according to the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE), with a Minolta colorimeter (Minolta, CR-200, Japan). ‘Rojo Brillante’ fruit skin color was objectively expressed as hue angle (h°). The hue angle is expressed in degrees and is a measure of color, for example from 0° to 90° spanning from red to orange to yellow. Both ‘Rojo Brillante’ and ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ were harvested based on visual skin color (yellow to orange-yellow). Hue color in these two groups ranged from 65.85° to 74.80° with an average of 68.97°.

After astringency removal ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ had hue values that ranged from 62.50° to 70.00° with an average of 63.17° (yellow-orange). However, ‘.Rojo Brillante’ had hue values that ranged from 43.00° to 57.30° with an average of 52.87° (orange), after astringency removal.

Table 1 depicts the trait differences between ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ and ‘Rojo Brillante.’

TABLE 1 Trait ‘Neuvo Rojo Brillante’ ‘Rojo Brillante’ Cheek Fruit Firmness 7.7 to 10.7 pounds 5.6 to 6.0 pounds Hue Color After 62.50° to 70.00° 43.00° to 57.30° Astringency Removal

The persimmon trees of the instant variety were also readily distinguishable from the ‘Hachiya’ (not patented) persimmon trees in numerous respects, including that they produced fruit which was ripe for commercial harvesting and shipment 10-20 days later that the fruit of the ‘Hachiya’ persimmon trees. ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ fruit matures at the same time as ‘Fuyu’ persimmon. ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ fruit is larger and has a brighter orange color at harvest than ‘Hachiya.’ ‘Hachiya’ blossom color end is orange or reddish color equal to or darker than Munsell color 6.7 YR 5.93/12.7, and has a cheek firmness of about 9.0 pounds.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Referring more specifically to the pomological details of this new and distinct variety of persimmon tree, the following has been observed under the ecological conditions prevailing in the orchard of origin located near Kingsburg in the southern San Joaquin Valley of California.

-   Tree:     -   -   Generally.—‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ tree is large to medium in             size with high vigor and trained to grow on an open vase.         -   Size.—Height, ten to twelve feet.         -   Size.—Width, ten to twelve feet when trained to grow in an             open vase.         -   Vigor.—High.         -   Productivity.—Very high.         -   Regularity of bearing.—‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ is compatible             with Diospyros lotus and D. virginiana, and no alternative             bearing habits have been observed in Spain which has similar             climatic conditions to those in the southern San Joaquin             Valley of California.         -   ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ hardiness zone.—USDA zone 8-10;             ideally California (9-10). -   Trunk:     -   -   Size.—Medium, 40 cm (15.7 inches) to 60 cm (23.6 inches) in             circumference at a point 50 cm (19.9 inches) above ground             level.         -   Surface texture.—Moderately rough.         -   Lenticel numbers.—Moderate numbers.         -   Lenticels size.—Small, 5.5 cm (2.2 inches) in length. -   Branches:     -   -   Size.—Medium, 25 cm (9.8 inches) to 27cm (10.6 inches) in             circumference at a point 40 cm (15.7 inches) above crotch.         -   Surface texture.—Slightly rough.         -   Angle of branches.—43 degrees at a point approximately 36 cm             (14.2 inches) above crotch.         -   Lenticels numbers.—Moderate.         -   Lenticels size.—Small, 3.6 cm (1.4 inches) to 4.8 cm (1.9             inches) in length. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Generally — Medium to large, pinnately veined.         -   Average length.—130 mm (5.12 inches) to 160 mm (6.30             inches).         -   Average width.—80 mm (3.15 inches) to 90 mm (3.54 inches).         -   Form.—Ovate. Leaf tip is broadly acuminate.         -   Petiole.—Length — 10 mm (0.39 inches) to 15 mm (0.59             inches).         -   Petiole.—Thickness — 2.5 mm (0.098 inches).         -   Glands.—None.         -   Stipule length.—Average 3.8 mm (0.15 inches).         -   Stipules shape.—Globular. -   Flowers:     -   -   Flower buds.—Only female (pistillated) flowers very abundant             with high set and low fruit drop.         -   Generally.—Flower are dioecious. Flowers are also hardy in             typical climatic conditions in the southern San Joaquin             Valley of California. Flower buds are covered by large             calyx.         -   Size.—Length — 12 mm (0.47 inches) to 16 mm (0.63 inches).         -   Size.—Width — 7.3 mm (0.29 inches).         -   Surface texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Shape.—Winged.         -   Date of bloom.—Less than 10% by April 15. and 100% by mid             May (mid season bloom).         -   Calyx.—Size — Large, 16 mm (0.63 inches) to 19 mm (0.75             inches).         -   Flowers.—Size. — Generally — Small to medium, 4.5 mm (0.177             inches) to 8 mm (0.315 inches).         -   Petals.—Number — Four (4).         -   Petals.—Form — Broadly ovate.         -   Petals.—Size — Length — Average 7 mm (0.276 inches) to 11 mm             (0.433 inches).         -   Petals.—Size — Width — 6 mm (0.236 inches) to 8 mm (0.315             inches).         -   Flower pedicels.—Medium.         -   Flower pedicels.—Length — 1 mm (0.433 inches) to 14 mm             (0.551 inches).         -   Flower pedicels.—Thickness — 4 mm (0.157 inches).         -   Surface Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Calyx.—Surface Texture — Glabrous.         -   Sepals.—Number — Four (4).         -   Sepals.—Size — Large.         -   Sepals.—Length — 20 mm (0.787 inches).         -   Sepals.—Width — 18 mm (0.709 inches).         -   Sepals.—Surface Texture — Glabrous.         -   Sepals.—Form — Broadly ovate. -   Fruit: ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ is in the pollination-variant     astringent (PVA) group with a high parthenocarpic productivity.     Glossy orange fruits (CIE avg. 68.97°) are astringent at harvest     with very attractive bright red orange skin color (CIE avg. 63.17°);     yellow-orange flesh without brown spots at harvest time. Fruits are     edible with an excellent flavour only after submitted to an     astringency removal treatment in which they turn bright red orange.     ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ matures for commercial harvesting and     shipment approximately the third week of November near Kingsburg, in     the southern San Joaquin Valley of California. The time from removal     of astringency, which is done right after harvest, to eating is     temperature depending. Treated ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ can be stored     for approximately 7 to 9 weeks at 50° F. and 90% relative humidity     (RH), and can be ‘ready to eat’ within 1 to 2 days after astringency     removal.     -   -   Size.—Generally uniform and large for oriental persimmon,             averaging 250-300 grams per fruit with an average diameter             of at least 61 mm.         -   Calyx.—Slightly depressed attachment to fruit, has a             horizontal attitude in relation to the fruit, and size is             larger than fruit diameter.         -   Form.—Very broad ovate shape.         -   Apex.—Obtuse shape, weak to moderate grooving, and cracking             is absent.         -   Skin.—Thickness. — Average for persimmons.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Tenacity.—Adheres tightly to flesh.         -   Tendency to crack.—None observed.         -   Fruit color.—Overall color at maturity covered whole fruit             with a fully orange color (CIE avg. 68.97°). On fruit after             ripening the orange color turns bright red orange (CIE avg.             63.17°).         -   Flesh color.—Uniform yellow orange throughout on the fruit.         -   Seeds.—When pollinated will produce seeds and brown areas             around the seeds.         -   Flavor.—Astringent on mature fruit, very sweet after             astringency removal.         -   Eating quality.—Astringent similar to ‘Rojo Brillante’ and             ‘Hachiya,’ excellent after astringency has been removed.         -   Plant/fruit disease and pest resistance/susceptibility.—None             observed.         -   Use.—Drying and fresh market only after special ripening             (astringency removal treatment).

Although the new variety of persimmon tree possesses the described characteristics noted above as a result of the growing conditions prevailing near Kingsburg, California in the southern San Joaquin Valley of California, it is to be understood that variations of the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions, irrigation, fertilization, pruning, pest control, climatic variations and the like, are to be expected. 

1. A novel and distinct variety of persimmon tree herein denominated ‘Nuevo Rojo Brillante’ having the characteristics described and illustrated herein. 